Bow and Arrows

Anthony was invited to a birthday party at Salt Lake Archery.

He was so excited to be like Link and shoot a bow and Arrow.

He tried and tried, and never gave up.

By the end of the day, he was hitting the target.

 

He had also declared his Birthday will be there.

New Toy

For Easter the we decided to get the kids a trampoline. I really wanted to find something to get them outside. We looked at a swing set, but Anthony will grow out of that in no time.

 

Jackson was all about helping build it.

Anthony finally joined in and helped. After 5 hours the guys finally got it built.

And the kids

Jumped and

jumped.

 

They love it. It has been a hit.

 

I love that we were able to surprise them. Even better was getting the Thank yous from them.

Easter 2013

After the Holi Festival we had some Easter fun.

We started out with dying eggs with their cousins.

Jazzlyn decided to color with the crayons.

While Anthony colored his hand.

Jackson enjoyed the coloring the eggs.

30 minutes flat we had all these eggs.

Easter morning, the kids had found the Easter bunny had been good to them.

We then held a Egg hunt at the house. The kids loved it. Even better is being able to actually hide them.

It was a nice day outside, and a great day with family.



Holi - Festival of Colors

Last weekend I took the kids, with some friends to the Holi Festival in Spanish Fork. We went first thing in the morning (highly recommended).

 

In India, Holi announces the arrival of spring and the passing of winter. The festival breathes an atmosphere of social merriment. People bury their hatchets with a warm embrace and throw their worries to the wind. Every nook and corner presents a colorful sight. Young and old alike are covered with colors (red, green, yellow, blue, black and silver). People in small groups are seen singing, dancing and throwing colors on each other.

 

Holi has long traditional links with several legends. According to one popular legend, the word Holi is derived from the demoness, Holika. She was the sister of Hiranya Kashipu (the name meaning love of gold and a soft bed), a demon king, who having defeated the Gods, proclaimed his supremacy over everyone else in the Universe. Enraged over his son's ardent devotion to Lord Vishnu, Hiranya Kashipu decides to punish him. He takes the help of his sister, Holika, who is immune to any damage from fire. Holika carries the small boy Prahlad into the fire but a divine intervention destroys her and saves Prahlad from getting burned. Thus Holi is celebrated to mark the triumph of good over evil, light over darkness, kindness over cruelty.
Holi is celebrated with special importance in the North of India. It solemnizes the love of Radha and Krishna. The spraying of colored powders recalls the love sport of Lord Krishna and His devotees.

The color, noise and entertainment that accompanies the celebration of Holi bears witness to a feeling of oneness and sense of brotherhood. The festival brings home the lesson of spiritual and social harmony!!

This is us before the colors are thrown. As you walk around people just start throwing color at you.

This was after about an hour of walking around. I decided to get the kids mask because of the dust from the chalk. And I must say it was a great idea!

There were so many college kids there, and with the music and the crowds I felt like I was part of woodstock. Body surfing included.

The first throwing was at 11 am. And happened every hour after that. I didn't know what to expect.

I was super proud of Anthony. He had such a good attitude about the chalk. Both kids really enjoyed it.

 Top left was us right in the midst of the chalk being thrown. I sure wish I had a mask. The bottom row is all our after pictures.

 

Crazy thing was 3 days later I was still finding chalk in my ears!

I Did It!

I made Pacesetter for 2012!

 

 

I wasn't so sure if I had it this year or not. They added some new metrics into the mix so I really was surprised.

 

You ask where am I going this time?!?!

 

MAUI!

 

That's right I am going to a tropical beach that I have never been to. April 30th can't get here soon enough. 

Snow Season

This winter has been a cold and snowy one.

 However the kids have been enjoying it.

 

Fresh snow is super pretty (unless I have to drive in it).

Jackson enjoyed trekking through it.

Snowball fights have been popular.

We even manged to take the kids sledding. Small hills, and small hills with jumps.

And super big hills!

WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

It was a fun afternoon.

 

Now that we have enjoyed the possibilities of the snow bring on Spring!



South Beach

This post should have happened back in December. But since nothing has been going on yet this year, I better wrap up last year. Brenda and I spent a couple of days in Miami before doing a two day cruise to nowhere on the brand new Celebrity Reflection.

After we arrived to the Marriott South Beach after our red eye flight, and emergency landing in Nashville we found this view from our room. The first day there was a blur.

But after a good nights sleep and some food, we were ready for a day of sightseeing.

First stop was the everglades, and a air boat ride.

We got to hold the crocadile and pretend we drove the air boat. The everglades was so much fund and tottaly worth it.

At some point we drove past the Dash store. Wish I could have seen a Karadashian.

After seeing other parts of the city, we did a boat tour on Key Biscayne Bay.

Brenda attempted to be the guide.

Mostly we were able to see the homes of the Rich and Famous. For some reason this is the only one I remember. Above: Hulk Hogan.

These ones are only a few of the ones we saw. But for the life of me I can't remember who's is who's.

This famous has could be seen from the freeway. It's the house used for the movie Scarface.

An amazing Sunset.

Here is a great panaromic view of Miami from the bay.

That night we headed down South Beach to find dinner. We decided on the place with the larger drink menu with a small food menu. So fun to see how alive South Beach becomes at night.

Brenda even found a Brenda sized palm tree.

And was like a kid on Christmas when she got to hold the Lemer.

The morning before heading to the ship, we went and put our feet in the sand one last time.

I need a beach in my life more often.

This building is pretty amazing, and I was in awe of it the whole time.